Photo lay-marker table



May 27, 1969 H. E. KRANz PHOTO LAY-MARKER TABLE 1NvEN'roR Hago E. Kranz United States Patent O 3,446,162 PHOTO LAY-MARKER TABLE Hugo E. Kranz, Overland Park, Kans., assignor to Replica Associates, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 669,440 Int. Cl. A47b 13/00 U.S. Cl. S-23 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A table for use in the garment industry for producing markers which can be positioned upon a lay of material as a guide in cutting the lay. The lay marker table includes a base sheet normally disposed in a horizontal position having a reliective coating on one face thereof, said face supporting a plurality of light tubes, the light tubes, in turn, supporting a iiat sheet of transparent material, there being translucent indicia on the sheet of transparent material whereby patterns may be positioned thereupon, suitable copy paper then ybeing placed in overlying relationship to the patterns and the sheet of transparent material and the light tubes actuated whereby to reproduce said patterns on a master copy of the marker, which master copy can then be utilized to produce cutting copies of the marker for placement on the lay as a guide in cutting.

It is the most important object of this invention to provide a lay marker table having .a plurality of identical sections, each of the sections being an independent component, but the sections being usable in series to present an overall table surface adequate to accommodate, for reproduction onto a master marker, the desired number of patterns to be used in making a given garment or garments.

It is a yet further important aim of this invention to provide a lay marker table wherein each section has a base sheet disposed normally in a horizontal position, the base sheet having a pair of opposed faces, the normally uppermost of said faces having a reflective coating thereupon and directly supporting a plurality of light tubes extending the width of the table section, the light tubes, in turn, supporting a sheet of transparent material, such as glass, upon which the patterns are positioned for subsequent reproduction onto a marker.

Other important objects of this invention include the provision of translucent indicia on the normally uppermost surface of the sheet of transparent material, which indicia `may be used as a guide in positioning the patterns; the provision of a reiiective coating on one face of the base sheet whereby to obtain maximum utilization of the light sources; the provision of means for retaining the patterns on said normally uppermost surface of the sheet of transparent material and in flat overlying engagement therewith; and measuring means carried by the frame of the lay marker table section whereby, upon utilization thereof, a working width of the table may be determined.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary, top plan view of a section of the lay marker table;

FIG. 2 is a partially longitudinal, sectional view thereof taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

The lay marker table may be of any desired length or width, depending upon the number of patterns it is required to accommodate, but in the present case, it is ICC contemplated that the lay marker table will be constituted of a plurality of sections, each of which sections are identical and may ybe positioned in end-to-end relationship to create an overall lay marker table having the desired or necessary length. A single section 10 is illustrated in the drawing, it being understood that any number of such sections 10 may be utilized in creating the linal lay marker table or that one of said sections might be independently utilized. Inasmuch .as the sections are identical in construction only one will -be hereinafter described in detail.

Each section is essentially rectangular in plan configuration having a pair of longitudinal sides 12 and 14 defining its length, and a pair of transverse ends 16 and 18 deiining the width of the section 10. Side members 12 and 14 and end `members 16 and 18 combine to define a frame 20 for the table section, which frame circumscribes said section. A backing member 22 is provided for the frame 20, said backing member being suitably attached to said frame 20 as by fastening means 24, whereby one of the end or side sections may Abe easily removed to gain access to the interior of the frame.

A base sheet 26 is positioned in spaced relationship from backing member 22, it being contemplated that base sheet 26 would normally be disposed in overlying spaced relationship to `backing member 22 so that a horizontal area 2S is provided therebetween, said .area 28 being primarily intended for the reception of the ballast-carrying structure 30 of a plurality of light tubes 32. A number of struts 34 are supported by backing member 22 and, in turn, support base sheet 26. Base sheet 26 has a pair of opposed faces 36 and 38, the normally uppermost face 36, and that which is most proximal to light tubes 32, being provided with a reiiective coating.

Light tubes 32 are of the uorescent type and it has been found specifically that watt black light, high output tubes, identiiied as General Electric type F72T12, are best suited for the purposes hereinafter described. Said tubes 32 .are of suiiicient length to span the Width of section 10 and are in physical contact with the upper face 36 of base sheet 26 -whereby said base sheet 26 directly supports said tubes 32, it being appreciated that said tubes are also supported at their outermost ends by structure 30.

A iiat sheet of transparent material 40 is positioned in overlying relationship to tubes 32 and is in direct physical Contact with said tubes, whereby the latter serve to physically support sheet 40. Sheet 40 is preferably formed of glass, although a suitable plastic could be accommodated to such use and has a pair of opposed surfaces 42 and 44. Because of the length of section 10 it is desirable that said sheet of transparent material 40 be made up of a number of sections to obtain maximum strength therein, and when the sheet 40 is so constituted, it is desirable that the joint 46 between the sections be in overlying relationship to the longitudinal axis of one of the tubes 32, it having been found that when the joint 46 is so positioned, the joint line or crack will not be reproduced upon the marker when the table is used in the manner hereinafter described. It is also desirable that the normally uppermost surface 42 of sheet 40 .be provided with a spray coating of adhesive material so that patterns positioned thereupon will `be retained in their desired positions.

Furthermore, to aid in the positioning of the patterns, such as 48, upon the uppermost surface of transparent sheet 40, said surface `42 is provided with indicia 50 in the nature of a plurality of grid lines, there being longitudinally extending grid lines 52 and transversely extending grid lines 54, it being desirable that said lines be on one inch centers and that both the longitudinal lines 52 and the transverse lines 54 be of alternating colors whereby to create suihcient contrast to aid in positioning patterns 48 upon surface 42. In the drawing, and as an example, the grid lines shown by a solid line are illustrated as being red in color, and the grid lines shown by dashed lines are illustrated as being blue in color, it being appreciated that any contrasting colors might be utilized. It is important that indicia 50 be translucent in character so that when the light source therebeneath, in the form of tubes 32, is actuated, the lines themselves will not be reproduced upon the marker paper. Thus, it will be appreciated that by utilizing grid line indicia which is translucent in character, the indicia can be used in positioning the patterns 4S upon surface 42 either straight or on the bias to conform with the grain of the cloth of the lay in connection with which the marker is to be used and yet the lines 52 and 54 will not be reproduced upon the marker.

Inasmuch as the material constituting the lay may be of a width less than that of section 10, there is provided measuring means 56 carried by the frame 20 at one side thereof, the measuring means being in the nature of a tape measure 58 having a bar 60v at the free end thereof and disposed in perpendicular relationship thereto. The tape 58 is marked with measuring indicia in such a manner that when tape 58 is extended outwardly from its housing, the user thereof may, by reading the tape, determine the distance between the innermost edge 62 of bar 60 and the opposed side 14 of the section 10, thereby enabling the user to determine the working width available between said edge 62 and side 14. Thus, if the lay is of less width than the uppermost surface of section 10, the bar may be initially positioned at a point whereby the distance between edge 62 and side 14 will be the same as the width of the lay, and the patterns 48 then positioned between said two points to subsequently create a marker of the same width as the lay.

In utilizing the structure described above to create a master and a cutting marker, patterns 48 are positioned upon surface 42 of transparent sheet 40 in a width of said surface corresponding to the width of the lay upon which the marker is to be used. By utilizing indicia 50, the patterns may be positioned in such a manner as to obtain maximum utilization of the cloth of the lay and to also accommodate the grain of the cloth. It is, of course, apparent that the individual patterns y48 may be shifted in their position to the extent necessary to obtain the most desirable placement thereof for maximum utilization of the material of the lay.

Once patterns 48 have been positioned, they are held in place by the adhesive coating which is provided on surface 42 of sheet 40, and a master marker 64 is positioned in overlying relationship to the patterns 48. It will also be appreciated that suitable magnetic means could be used to position and lay out the patterns on the glass to thereby achieve the best economy of cloth in the working width. Such means could be used both on a at table as disclosed herein or on a table which could be tilted. Master marker 64 is a sepia paper which is translucent and has a light sensitive diazo coating on one side thereof, the side with said coating being placed in engagement with the pattern pieces 48.

If it is desired to concurrently produce a cutting copy of the marker, a sheet of light sensitive copy paper 66 is positioned in overlying relationship to master marker sheet 64. Retaining means 68, shown in the drawing as a sheet of rubber material, or any other type of material with enough weight to hold the copy paper and patterms or the markers in intimate contact with the glass which gives exact copies, is then positioned in overlying relationship to sheet 66 and sheet 64. Light tubes 32 are then actuated by a suitable switch which may be coupled with timing mechanism to obtain the desired exposure and, as a result of the actuation of light tubes 32, the patterns 48 are reproduced upon one face of master marker sheet 64 and also upon the cutting copy of the marker 66.

Retaining means 68 are then removed; cutting marker 66 is transferred to overlying relationship to the lay and is used as a guide in cutting the lay; and master copy 64 is retained for future reference should additional cutting markers be desired. Pattern pieces 48 can be removed from the table and stored for future reference if such becomes necessary. However, with the provision of master marker 64, if additional cutting markers are necessary, it is only required that master marker 64 be placed in overlying relationship to section 10; a sheet of cutting marker paper placed in overlying relationship thereto; both retained by means 68; and tubes 32 actuated, whereupon the master marker is reproduced upon the cutting marker, resulting in an additional copy of the cutting marker for use in connection with a subsequent lay.

It will be appreciated that, through use of a plurality of sections 10 disposed in end-to-end relationship, a master marker and cutting marker of any desired length can be produced. Thus, there is provided a stable, stationary, normally horizontal lay marker table which is convenient to use because of its stationary, flat condition, and which can be readily utilized in an economical length of time to produce a number of cutting markers, either as originals or as reproductions of master markers previously produced. It will also be apparent that the marker papers 64 and 66 can be positioned in overlying relationship to surface 42 by any suitable means such as, for instance, through the provision of a dispenser box containing rolls of such paper, which box would ride in tracks provided along the side edges of the section 10 whereby to position the rolls in overlying relationship to surface 42 whereby, upon movement of the dispenser boX along the length of a number of sections 10, the marker papers 64 and 66 could be independently or simultaneously laid upon the surface 42. Also, the retaining means 68 might well vbe placed upon the sheets of marker paper 64 and 66 through utilization of such a dispensing box. It is also important to note that when copies of the cutting marker are initially made from the patterns 48 or are subsequently made from a master marker 64, there is no requirement that the sheets 64 and 66 be run over a number of rollers or the like to be printed or developed and thus, all slippage between the sheets and possible elongation of the copies is eliminated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A lay marker table comprising:

a base sheet;

a plurality of light tubes overlying said base sheet, said base sheet having a pair of opposed faces, the face proximal to said tubes being provided with a reective coating;

a flat sheet of transparent material overlying said tubes, said sheet being supported by said tubes, the sheet having a pair of opposed surfaces, one of said surfaces being in contact with said tubes, said transparent sheet including at least a pair'of flat sections, the joint between said sections being in overlying relationship to one of said tubes, the base sheet and said transparent sheet being of substantially the same plan dimension, there being a frame circumscribing the edges of said sheets;

indicia on said sheet of transparent material for use in positioning a pattern thereupon, said indicia being on the other surface of said sheet, the indicia being in the form of a plurality of translucent lines extending longitudinally and transversely of said sheet, said other surface having a coating of adhesive material;

means for retaining said patterns in at overlying engagement with said indicia bearing surface of said transparent sheet; and

measuring means carried by said frame for determining the distance between one edge of said transparent sheet and said measuring means when the latter is placed over said sheet.

2. A lay marker table comprising:

a base sheet;

a plurality of closely spaced, transversely aligned light tubes overlying said base sheet;

a at sheet of transparent material overlying said base sheet and spacer therefrom a distance approximately equal to the diameter of said tubes, said sheet of transparent material having a pair of opposed surfaces, one of said surfaces being in contact with said tubes whereby said transparent sheet is supported by said tubes.

l5 3. A lay marker table as set forth in claim 2, the

other surface of said transparent sheet having indicia thereon for use in positioning aV pattern on said other Surface; and means `for retaining said patterns in at overlying engagement with said indicia bearing surface of said transparent sheet.

4. A lay marker table as set forth in claim 2, said light tubes emitting black light.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/ 1940 Davidson et al 10S-23 X 11/ 1947 Carscallen et al. 10S-23 6/ 1953 Knapp 10S-23 X 9/1957 Droste 10S-50 X 5/ 1962 Shine 108-23 9/ 1963 Banks l08-23 1/1965 Heyer 108-33 X 3/1967 Barzee et al. 10S-23 France.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

